PROPANE AUTOGAS KEEPS SHUTTLE SERVICE
PRICE COMPETITIVE
A PROPANE AUTOGAS CASE STUDY
ALTERNATIVE FUEL DRIVES DOWN OPERATING COSTS FOR
CHICAGO-BASED GO AIRPORT EXPRESS
F
ounded in 1853 by Chicago visionary Frank Parmelee, Go Airport Express
began as a carriage service between train lines. The company has since
evolved into a high-tech operation of ground transportation services
including airport shuttles, group charters, and convention shuttles.
Go Airport Express is currently the only
company with the required certification
from the Illinois Commerce Commission
to provide shared ride services from
Chicago’s O’Hare International and Midway
airports. The mission of Go Airport Express
— to provide convenient and affordable
transportation solutions — has not
changed throughout its 159-year history.
KEEPING A COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE
When gasoline prices skyrocketed
throughout the nation in 2011, Go Airport
Express began exploring alternative
fuel options for its 120-vehicle fleet
traveling between Chicago’s airports and
downtown hotels.
Concerned that company profits would
continue to be cycled back into company
overhead costs to make up for the
increasing cost of fuel, Robert Hann, the
VP of marketing for Go Airport Express,
needed a solution that would allow the
company to continue to compete against
local taxi providers.
“It’s been very difficult to increase our
fares and keep our bottom line, so we’ve
been really looking at ways to increase
our margins,” said Hann. “When money
COMPANY
Go Airport Express
Chicago, Ill.
CHALLENGE & SOLUTION
Reduce fuel expenses and minimize
the fleet’s carbon footprint between
Chicago’s airports and downtown
area while maintaining maximum
performance and passenger comfort.
RESULT
Since switching to propane autogas
in December 2011, the fleet’s 30
Ford E-350 van fleet has reduced Go
Airport Express’ fuel spend by more
than half.
CASE STU DY
G O AI RPORT EXPR ESS
CHIC AGO, I LL.
is tight, such as in a down economy, companies begin looking for
alternative methods to protect their financial stability and future.”
Determined to save money while reducing carbon emissions, Go
Airport Express compared propane autogas and compressed
natural gas (CNG) in the categories of range, infrastructure and
costs of vehicle conversion, fuel, and maintenance.
“Our stipulations were that we needed an alternative fuel that would
not only save us money, but decrease our carbon footprint without
sacrificing performance and having zero effect on our passengers’
comfort,” continued Hann. “After analyzing the return on investment,
propane autogas was selected as our preferred fuel.”
TAILORING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE
Roush CleanTech worked with Hann and Go Airport Express to make
sure that the propane-autogas-powered fleet would not only meet,
but exceed the ground transportation company’s required criteria.
“Being located in Chicago, we were concerned about cold-weather
engine starting in propane-autogas-powered vehicles,” said
Hann “To eliminate our concern, Roush CleanTech suggested that
we test drive various products that run on propane autogas. With
the new propane autogas liquid injection technology, our concerns
about cold starts were not a factor. The technology works.”
After a thorough evaluation of Go Airport Express’ needs, Roush
CleanTech paired the company with a fleet of 30 Ford E-350
vans. To ensure maximum passenger comfort, the vans were
customized with wider rows and additional seating capacity.
Go Airport Express’ local propane retailer helped install
infrastructure for the propane-autogas-powered fleet at
the company’s downtown Chicago location. With their fleet
constantly on the move, Go Airport Express is looking to set
up additional refueling infrastructure options closer to the
city’s airports.
to propane autogas, Hann has been pleased with customer and
employee’s reaction to “greening” their fleet. He even believes
the switch has helped the company secure new business.
“We survey our customers and that seems to be a very important
to them,” Hann said. “Chicago’s a big convention town, so when
we’re marketing to conventions, that’s another feather we
can tout — that we have a green fleet. I think the conventions
appreciate that as they’re looking for ways to go green.”
While the importance of a green fleet is not lost on Hann, the
primary advantage with propane autogas has remained its
impact on Go Airport Express’ bottom line.
“The biggest reason to go to propane autogas is the fuel savings
for us,” Hann said. “We love the green aspect; we think that has a
lot of benefits. We think it is helpful to the environment, but when
you look at gasoline prices in Chicago being $4.30 and $4.50 this
past summer, and you can get propane autogas for less than half
of that, it doesn’t take a lot to see how that’s going to pay off.”
For more information about Go Airport Express, visit
airportexpress.com.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Go Airport Express’ 30 Ford E-350 propane-autogas-fueled
vans began work in December 2011 and account for half of the
company’s total fleet servicing downtown hotels. Since switching
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about propane autogas and the Propane Education & Research Council,
visit propane.com/on-road-fleets.
Propane Education & Research Council / 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1075 / Washington, DC 20036
P 202-452-8975 / F 202-452-9054 / propanecouncil.org
The Propane Education & Research Council
was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the
passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane
Education and Research Act (PERA), signed
into law on October 11, 1996. The mission of
the Propane Education & Research Council is
to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized
propane gas as a preferred energy source.
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